Mathis creates its prostheses with high-tech tools

Mathis (Quimper, 30 employees, Turnover 2016: €3 M) develops prostheses, corsets and trunk orthoses, and tailor-made medical posture devices. In its Benodet workshops, the company’s work is based on the very latest imaging and 3D printing technologies, using such exotic materials as carbon prepreg, thermoformed polyethylene or silicone. The patient is scanned and their corset is modelled by software before being made with a 3D printer.

Thanks to technological developments, such as motorised joints, this industry has made a huge technological leap over the past 10 years. The latest innovations are from the USA where the military have financed research for their Middle East war veterans. The prostheses may even contain electronic chips in the joints. However, these high-techs components remain marginal since their cost is so high.